Ohio State comes into its trip to USC with plenty of questions of its own, but the bigger spotlight is sitting squarely on Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. The Buckeyes have not looked like a great football team in 2026, even with Julian Sayin at quarterback.
They lost to Texas, then struggled through an ugly 19-15 win at Indiana in a game controlled by the defenses. Sayin was injured in that contest, though he had not exactly shredded Indiana before leaving.
Now Ohio State has to go on the road without him, with backup Luke Fahey taking over at quarterback against USC and Riley. That setup makes this game as plain as it gets for the Trojans: beat a severely limited opponent at home in primetime, or watch the pressure on Riley spike even higher.
USC’s own issues make the matchup even harder to brush aside. Jayden Maiava is a quality quarterback, but he was left on his own against Wisconsin.
The offensive line gave him little protection and did not open up the run game, while the receivers failed to separate, especially on deep balls. The result was a miserable seven-point performance, the worst of Riley’s time at USC.
That game came after a two-week break, which makes the flat showing even harder to explain away. With that much time to reset, USC should have looked sharper and more organized. Instead, the Trojans came out looking unready, and that falls most heavily on Riley.
So the task in front of USC is straightforward. Beat a struggling Ohio State team led by Luke Fahey, and the conversation moves on. Fail to do that at home, and the case for Riley heading into the 2027 season starts to crumble fast.
In Other News...
USC Faces A Defining Ohio State Test Jide Abasiri Set The Tone
With No. 2 Ohio State coming to town, USC is spending the week where these kinds of games often get decided: at the line of scrimmage. Junior defensive tackle Jide Abasiri helped set that tone as the Trojans prepared for one of their biggest tests yet, stressing the need to match the Buckeyes physical style and treat the matchup like a true measuring stick. His voice carries extra weight after working back from a leg injury, and he also made clear that the young players around him have been part of the reason the defense has kept moving forward.
Abasiri pointed to the growth of a true freshman and a Michigan State transfer as examples of the kind of contributions USC needs if it wants to stand up to an elite opponent. He also offered a glimpse into the teams mindset and the culture around fan behavior, framing this game as part of a larger standard rather than a one-off event. For the Trojans, the challenge is bigger than the opponent on the schedule. It is about whether they can turn that talk about physicality into something that holds up for four quarters. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Just Became Texas Biggest Quarterback Watch
Arch Mannings future at Texas has suddenly become one of the sports most closely watched storylines, and the ripple effect reaches all the way to USC. Even with no public indication that Manning is ready to leave Austin, the speculation around a possible move for the 2027 season has already turned into a broader recruiting and roster-watch conversation, with analysts and insiders floating familiar powers like Ole Miss, Georgia, USC and Miami as possible fits.
For the Trojans, the intrigue is obvious. USC has been tied to the discussion because of the kind of quarterback talent it always attracts and the way coaching connections and roster openings can shape these high-end decisions, even if nothing concrete has surfaced. For now, it is still a theory more than a timeline, but when a name like Manning enters the portal rumor mill, every program with quarterback ambition has to pay attention. [Read more 🡒]
USC Has No Margin For Empty Talk Against Ohio State
After the loss to Wisconsin, USC players spent the week sounding less interested in making promises than in fixing the basics before Ohio State arrives. The defensive side of the ball in particular talked about the need for sharper fundamentals and a more consistent edge in practice, a reminder that the Trojans know they cannot afford a loose stretch with a heavyweight opponent waiting next on the schedule.
Lincoln Riley also addressed the outside noise and confirmed he remains with the program, cutting off at least one distraction as USC tries to steady itself. Amid the football fallout, freshman wide receiver Ethan Feaster added a different kind of note to the week by launching a breast cancer awareness merchandise campaign to support related charities, a small but notable off-field effort as the Trojans try to regain traction. [Read more 🡒]